The Neve Harms Award for Meritorious Service to Sports was established in 1966.

Neve was director of Proctor Recreation Center. He knew the need for all youths to participate in sports activities, not just the few who excelled. He therefore adopted a firm policy that assured all youths would have an opportunity to play in various sports activities.

Neve was a 4-sport player at Manual High and a member of the 1929 Manual High State basketball champions.

His tradition was carried on by former winners Tony Van Dyke, Paul Reatherford, and many others who made sure all participated, boys and girls.

In the last number of years, many teams were formed, in basketball, football, soccer, hockey, but that also required sponsorship from various organizations throughout the Peoria area. Such a group is the Independent Sports Club of Peoria (ISC), a current member of the Greater Peoria Sports Hall of Fame. It was established in 1945 with its goal to help kids in the greater Peoria area.

Our winner this year is Cliff Coddington a man who has belonged to this club for 50 years, serving as past president, board member, and many activities chairman, but by far his most important achievement is that of being treasurer this past 16 years. He took the ISC through a very troubled era to where today it is financially sound, while contributing thousands of dollars to our youth and fulfilling Neve Harms' dream that as long as men like Cliff Coddington are alive, that dream will last forever.

The song has ended but the melody lingers on. Manual's incredible 36-game Class AA boys basketball state tournament winning streak ended in the 1998 Sweet 16. The school's record run of four championships was doomed when the 1997 graduation of All-Americans Marcus Griffin and Sergio McClain left the Rams with an all-guard starting lineup.

But what a guard Manual had in 6-foot-3 Frank Williams, the Tri-County's Male Athlete of the Year for 1998.

"With Frank on your team, you can play with anyone," Manual coach Wayne McClain said. And win 27 out of 30, he might have added. That was the worst Rams' record in Williams' four high school years.

But Williams continued the Manual mystique like a one-man army, leading the Rams in points scored (22.8 average), rebounds (6.4) and assists (4.9).

And in arguably the best year for individual Illinois talent, Williams was named the best player in the state, becoming the third Mr. Basketball award winner in area (and Manual) history.

After graduation, Williams played in the McDonald All-America game at Norfolk, Va., and in Magic's Roundball Classic in Auburn Hills, Mich.

Now at the University of Illinois, he is completing classroom work to become eligible to join the Illini and former teammates McClain and Griffin next season.